Apparatus for the analysis of a record and the indication of the correlation factor



Nov. 9, 1954 A. J. A. FAVRE APPARATUS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF A RECORD AND THE INDICATION OF THE CORRELATION FACTOR Filed Aug. 26. 1947 -2/6 2 'Z/Q O- 220 T .1' j. El

2593 908 APPARATUS FOR' ANAESESlSfiOF RECORD) AND THE INDICATION OF DHE (ZOKREEKTIQIN FACTOR Alexandre Jean Auguste: Eavre-,r.=Maiueilles, Eranceyassignor to Ofiice :NationaludEtudes et rde- Reacherches Aeronautiques,. Paris, f France ApplicatiomAugustZ6,-I9 lLSerinl Noa'flthfil'fi Section 1", PubIieEaw690; AngustfS 1946 mana in -Marsharises 9- Claims. (l:"2-3l5-61)"= My inventionhas for itsuobjectlto providezapparatus for efiecting the statistical measuring of .a* correlation at spaced intervals:- of time and whichisalsm applicable to the measuringofi various.statisticaL-elements relating;

to. contingent. magnitudes. of whichtthe' difierentvalues at different moments are to be compared.

This apparatus. is, also applicable to statisticalmeasures. relating to several. contingent magnitudesnor =to-asingle contingent magnitudelconsidered. under various:

conditions; said magnitudes b.eing;.compared.zat diiferent time intervals so as. to indicate -corr.elation int-timeand space.

The apparatus according; to my inventionwconvertsthe: contingent phenomenon. or'phenomena to. be consideredinto an. immediately perceptiblegphenomenon the. direct observation of which will the.definition-oflstatisticalfactors.

In apparatus embodying-the; invention:

(a) The phenomenon-. to berst-udied. has auquantitative influence on a-measuring, instrument the-indicationsof which are provided by the values of acharacteristicv property of an electric currentor a beam oflllight.

(b) The characteristic property of the-electric,- current or luminous beam is recorded on .a-.dia gram lune winding as a function of. time.

(c) Therecording isreproduced simultaneously on. several difierent sections-oi? the. diagram.

(d) These. reproductions that. are: constituted by elec. tric currents or luminousrfluxes are associated together statisticallyand' this combination whenz;it=becorness-ap.- parent allows. measuring-the desired statistitalresults:

My invention covers in particular. arr apparatus; in. which the phenomenon. to besmdied isrconverted into an. electric current; the-current is then-recorded- =on a: record made of metal, that unwinds continuously asa': function of' time after. which two .simultaneousilneproductions are performed attwo points Ofiihttnl'BCGhdfilIhfilii are distant from OHELaIlOthCF-T andl'l'ocatedonathedowne stream side of the recording-point, whereby electric cur rents are produced of 'whichone corresponds to: the phenomenon 'considered ata zfirst predetermined moment: whilethe other relates to'the samc phenomenon: C011? sidered at a moment ditferent from the: :former after: which one of the-cmzrentsisappliedwto ione pair-ofiplates of a cathode ray oscillograph while: thewothercurrent. is applied to the other pain'of ,platesiofa-said oscillograph.

I obtain thus on the. oscillographtscreen a statistical: spot: area that it is possible :touphotograph to invests gate through axmicrophotometer androfiwhichnit isezposr sible to" measure the: geometrical size; such: measure ments allowing ascertaining the desired statistical elmments, for instance the coefiicient'vof correlation: thatlis delayed in time, through: application-oil knowm math-r ernaticalformulae.v

In a modificationtallowii gadirect m'easurin'goif"statis tical elementgiorinstance; that of'the' coeflici'ent of correlation; the tworeproduction currents" are associated so as to form their product in an apparatusnof" known type adapted. to provide saidiproduct, forexample, inia damped electro-d'ynamometer or 'adamped wattmeter. Through a suitable selection of the amount of damping,- there may be obtained dii'cctly a measure of thedesired element and it is possible to study microscopically small variations thereofi My inventioncoversalsoz.

(A); An embodiment oh the, invention. wherein the.

2,693,908 Patented Nov. 9,. 1954 ice 2: time+shifting between: simultaneousrreproductiuns is adjustable,v said reproductions corresponding. consequently to :plienomena. considered at 'diife-rent. and. adjustable time-:intervals. (BE); Affurtherembodim'ent. according to which. there:

are recorded: on, a; single record electric: currents or: fluxes or likelrelatiug; to: ldiiferentiphenomena.

(C) A further modification according to which there are; executed on. the same diagram several. recordings relating to: the same pl'tenomcnon,v the records being.

executed under. difierent conditions..

The recording; means .for obtaining. a. recording. olivtheiphenomenonzorphenonrena to: he' studied may be selected: advantageously among. those; usedv in the: art. for recording. sounds. such as. wax engraving: means;

plastic material 'engrzwingz means, a. photographic arrangementsimilar to: thatusedsfor. sound repro ducing. with: the-usual soundfilms; magnetic. means: and. the like;

-Ithis been found most advantageous; to: use' an arrangement. for magnetic recording of. the type: disclosed. by :Roulsen as far back. asx1898 and improyed sin'ceabynumerous;inventors.v It shouldbe remembered: thatiithis arrangementincludes. a metal wire ora metallic; strip or a strip vcarryingimagnetic filings that moves at: a uniformspeed inside a magnetic fieldcontrolled by the electric current to. be recorded. The magnetization produced in the. metal correspondstthustoi the differ-- ent values/of the: cur-rent "to be: recorded; The reproduction is obtainedsby caus'ingthe: magnetic diagram thus. provided: to: pass in the vicinity of an. electric. circuit. that forms then-"the seat-of induced currents which/recproduce the recorded current:

Theirecording.deviceuarrangement. includes to advantagemeanssfor producing a sinusoidalcar-rier wave that; is amplitude or'trequency modulated by the current. to be recorded; Thea'reproducing' current is 'then demodw latcd: after amplification and the originah current. is: ob:-

tain'edi'agaimthaticorresponds directly to the phenomenon;

predetermined: speech and- :the reprodnctionis I executed by means ofi saidv recent but/moving at a; speed different; from-the formert- Through such means: I' obtain either. or both: of the following results:.

The frequency of thecarrier waves: of theareproduction or reproductions that'zis different fronr that ofi the carrier waves usech-in the recording;

Amautomatic amplification through: an increase offthe derivative of theimagnetie field. aszai functiontofi. time;

In' ord'er that the invention may be fully' understood, illustrative embodiments thereof" are hereinafter described in. detail, merely byway of example and with reference: to the accompanying drawing, which forms: a part hereof, and wherein:v

:Fig'. .l' .is a schematic? view' showing 'a'..portiona of' apparatus constructed in accordance with-thepresent lin vention;

Fig; 2' is .a. wiring diagramof the remainder of the embodiment .of Fig. 13;. and

Fig. 3 is a schematic view and wiring diagramof'another embodiment-of theinvention.

As. shown .in Fig. l, the lmni'noussource S-produces a luminous beam- S-' of predetermined characteristics/adapt;- edtl'to coop'erate. with the screen e; Said. screen issmadeof. flexible material. and .is constituted for instance by a: blackeneii opaque sheet of mica. that assumes a. generalrectangular shape: and. is". held alongone edge through a stationary-'standfe'. This flexible: screenrls positioned insa. stream. of a turbulent: fluid: the speed ofi whichzlis given OUti'bY-thEVB'ClCOT'V and-10f which its is' desired to study a: component 11* t) at: the: point occupied by-the screen e, compared-to itselfwitha dt delay; Beyond the screen e, the beam S"impinges=on a photocell Ph;

The screen. e' located in thefluid current is--deformeci in conformity with a function of 'thesp'eed of-t'he. latter and'lit cuts'ofi a moreoriless'considerable fraction ofthe luminous beam S. The luminous flux received by the photocell Ph and consequently the electric current pass.- ing. through-said cellv depends. for a predetermined sl'iape. of. the: screen e, on the studiedkcomponent ofspeed or This gives an arrangement already known as the Faille- Taz photocell anemometer and which is fully described in Compte Rendu de lAcadmie des Sciences, T 206, p. 358, Paris, Janvier 1938 (Gauthier, Villars Edit. Paris).

To the same purpose, it is possible to use in my apparatus a hot wire anemometer as disclosed by Dryden (N. A. C. A. Report 581, page 5, 1937 by H. L. Dryden, G. B. Schubauer, W. C. Mock, J. and H. K. Skramstad N. B. 8.) or as described in: Les appareils it til chaud, leurs applications dans la Mcanique exprirnentale des fiuides by E. G. Richardson, Gauthier, Villars, Edit. Paris 1934.

It is also possible to use an ionic sounding apparatus and generally speaking any measuring system suiting the phenomena to be studied and that transforms the desired measure into an electrical current or a luminous flux.

With a combination of several elementary systems, it is possible to study as several components of the speed, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The current passing through the photocell Pk forms the modulating current of a carrier current the frequency of which may range for instance between 2,000 and 3,000 cycles. The modulation of the carrier current is performed in the modulator M of standard type. The carrier current may be modulated as to amplitude or as to frequency. Among the conventional methods of radioelectric technique, I have applied advantageously to this purpose anodic modulation through modification of the anodic voltage of a triode as produced at the rhythm of low frequency oscillations provided as disclosed hereinabove by the phenomenon to be studied.

The modulated current passing out of the modulator M is then recorded in a magnetic recording device carrying the general reference character E. Such a magnetic recording device may be of the kind referred to in United States Letters Patent No. 2,378,388.

In the drawing, I have illustrated diagrammatically a steel wire 3 moving over and between two drums 1 and 2 that are rotated respectively by two motors for winding and unwinding it. Between the two drums, the wire 1 is submitted to the action of a recording head T that includes as known per se an arrangement for the preliminary wiping out of any possible prior recording together with a second arrangement adapted to produce a further recording. Said latter arrangement includes a coil through which may flow a current from the modulating device M after amplification while a. gap is provided therein through which the steel wire 7 progresses at a constant speed. The induced magnetic field that is proportioned to said current magnetizes also in a proportional manner the portion of the wire lying in the gap and said wire retains a magnetization corresponding thus to the current to be recorded. As well known and stated hereinabove, the wire may be replaced by a metal strip or a strip carrying a magnetic powder, etc.

The wire 1 carries thus throughout at least part of its length a record of the phenomenon to be studied. The record on two different sections of the wire corresponds to the characteristics to be studied (in the present case a speed component) of the phenomenon at time intervals separated by an interval 6: equal to the time required for the wire to progress in front'of the recording head by a wire length equal to the distance between said two sections.

The wire carrying this infinity of records passes then inside the reproduction device; it passes first in front of a first reading head P, then in front of second reading head I These heads are similar intheir constitution to the recording device and are well known per se. Each head is slidingly carried on a carrier g that is preferably graduated so that it is possible to adjust the distance 51 between said reading heads; The passage of the wire through the gap provided in the head I induces in the latter an electric current that reproduces, except for an amplifying factor or the introduction of a carrier wave, the current passing through the photocell Ph at the moment when the wire section considered passes through the recording head T. At the same moment and similarly, the passage of the wire through the gap in the reading head I induces in the latter an electric current that, except for an amplification factor and the incorporation of a carrier wave, reproduces the current that has passed through the photocell P]: at the moment when the wire section considered has passed in register with the recording head T. In brief the reading heads I and I derive readings in the form of electric currents which define the phenomenon to be studied as it appears at time intervals that ditfer from one another by the time elapsed between the passage through the recording head T, of the section positioned at the moment considered in register with the reading head I and the passage through the recording head T of the section positioned at the moment considered under the reading head 1 The adjustment of the distance between the reading heads I and I allows selecting as desired said lagging or delay or time interval 6t.

The pulley 3 is mounted loose and provides for the return of the wire f to the drums 1 and 2.

In the simplest embodiment of the invention, the speed of progression of the wire in register with the recording head T is the same as the speed of progression of the wire in register with the reading heads I and 1 In a modification, the speed of progression of the wire through the heads I and I differs from the speed of passage through the recording head T. In this modification the reproduction step is obviously not simultaneous with the recording step. It is thus possible to obtain reproductions with carrier waves, the frequency of which differs from that of the recording carrier waves. It is also possible to obtain in this manner an automatic amplification through an increase in the derivative of the magnetic field with reference to time.

The reproduction current induced in the head I passes through an amplifier A1 and the reproduction current passing out of the head I feeds an amplifier A2 (Fig. 2). These amplifiers are for instance of the type including low frequency vacuum tubes feeding but little power and having a high voltage amplifying ratio. The current passing out of the amplifying device A1 passes then through a detector or demodulator D1 and the current 'passing out of the amplifying device A2 passes through a detector or demodulator D2.- These detectors are of a conventional type and may include a power amplifying tube feeding, through the agency of a transformer, diodes adapted to rectify the modulated oscillations according to the well known wiring diagram operating on both half-periods, while a filter is adapted to separate the low frequencies corresponding to the phenomenon to be studied from the double frequency and harmonic 4 components from the oscillator.

The current passing out of the detector D1 is sent to the vertical plates of a cathode ray oscillograph O and the current passing out of the detector D2 is sent into the horizontal plates of said oscillograph or vice versa. There appears on the screen of the oscillograph a statistical image that is described by the luminous spot the location of which on the screen in a system of rectangular coordinates is defined by abscissae proportional to the current passing out of the detector D1 while the ordinates are proportional to the current passing out "of the detector D2.

A photographic apparatus R is positioned in front of the oscillograph so as to allow photographing the screen of the latter. The photographing of said screen with a very short exposure shows the spot travels along a highly irregular path. In contradistinction, if a photograph is executed with a long exposure (i. e. that is long with reference to the frequency of the fluctuations in the phenomenon observed) there is obtained a statistically distributed image allowing a measuring of the main parameters sought for.

It is thus possible to draw by studying of said photographs the regression straight, the regression line, the curves of equal frequenceis and also to measure the dispersions, the coefiicient of correlation and correlation ragios, etc. relating to the registered contingent magnito e.

The mathematical definition of the coefficient of correlation may be fonnd in the following works:

G. I. Taylor, Thorie statistique de la turbulence Proc. of the Roy. Soc., 2 Sept. 1935, vol. 151. H. I? Drl'yden Rapport N. A. C. A. No. 581 (rfrence c1 ee,

Th. Von Karman, Les fondements de la thorie statistique de la turbulence, Journ. Aero. Sci., vol. 4 Fvrier 1937.

Th. Von Karman, Sur la thorie statistique de la turbulence isotrope.

L. Howarth, Proc. Roy. Soc. London, 1938.

Simply stated, the coefficient of correlation between two aleatory variables indicates the relation of probmer es ability between them. .It is-an averageevalueroverxa very long: period of time, ofi (toriproportional 110i). ;the.:prodnct ofzthe two variablesunderconsideration, iEronnano her standpoint, the.eoefiicient-ion-correlation may::beniegarded.v as; cognate with'theqnantity knownin analysis as, the

differential quotient- In analytical geometry, itnis. well-- by-that of the, coefficientof correlation.

The correlation coeflicient with reference to; time, in the usual case where the phenomenon studied. con forms, with Gauss law, may *be. .obtainedby-rneasurmg the. ratio, a/b between the .aneseof :theellipses. which are the eurves of equal .luminousdensities, obtained =on'2the.

photographs through theformula:

It is also possible to define the firequeney' of passage of the luminous spot through a point of the screen by measuring: the luminous density corresponding thereto as: recorded on a photographic plate. It is possible to use to this purpose a conventional micro photometer thatallows defining the-curve of equal luminous densities onthe photographs soas to obtain starting therefrom the curves of equal densities which allowmeasuring the co efiicient of correlation.

It is also possible todefinedirectlyastatistical-;param-- eterby providing for the multiplication between theelectric reproduction currents through the agency of electrical devices suchas -ad'amped wattrneter or a damped dynamometer fed with both currents.

Another embodiment of the invention will be described, related to the determination of the time delayed coeflicient of correlation in the case of'the turbulent gas-flow in a blast system. An obstacle, such as a set ofgrate; barslis interposed in the path of .flow ofthe blastgthe presenceof this obstacle causes turbulence beyond it in the stream. The receiver member of an anemometer 1s placed byond the obstacle. In one practically constructed and tested form of embodiment, the receiver member is a Dryden hot wire. It will be recalled that such a Dryden anemometer comprises a very fine platinum wire, a few microns in diameter, and about 1 mm. in length, electrically heated by a flow of current under constant voltage or with a constant amperage. This hot wire interposed in a jet of gas is cooled by convection under the motion of the surrounding fluid medium. As the electric resistance of the wire depends on its temperature, the voltage or current undergoes fluctuations which correspond to, and may serve to indicate, the fluctuations in velocity of the fluid. According to the invention, these current variations are recorded on a moving recording medium, from which readings are subsequently obtained at two different points thereof, and these readings statistically combined.

Referring in detail to Fig. 3, the hot wire 200 of a Dryden anemometer is placed in a turbulent fluid for which it is desired to measure the delayed or displaced coeflicient of correlation corresponding to a component of the velocity diagrammatically indicated at V.

The current output from the anemometer is fed through an amplifier 201 and the amplified current is applied to a recording device 202. This device comprises a record ing head 203 which produces a record upon a recording tape 204 fed from a drum 205 over rollers 206 and 207 to a take-up drum 208. The resulting record, beyond the head 203, is fed past two translating or read-out heads 209, 210, mounted for sliding adjustment on a calibrated support 211.

The read-out current from both read-out heads are amplified in amplifiers 212 and 213 and de-modulated in de-modulators 214 and 215, and are then statistically combined, for instance in a damped electro-dynamometer 216, the movable member 217 of which is adapted to indicate directly the coefiicient of correlation. Mounted in parallel with the damped electro-dynamometer or wattmeter 216 is a control oscillograph 218. One pair of the deflector plates 219-220 of this oscillograph is fed with current from the read-out head 210, after amplification and de-modulation thereof; the other set of plates 221-222: is 'fed: with the-wurrentaontpnti: from the. other readaouthead.

The above-described:zappanatnstwilhprouide atmeasnres rnent: of .the delayed or .timeedisplaced correlation .eos

efficient animakesit possiblleg.,forwexamplb, itoiiinuesti gate the variations .of .this 1coefli'cient;asaiii-unctziorricmtiithe velocity of the gaseous. q'et: :ahead. of. :the tobstaclnt or: .38.

a function. ofzthe distance .iironr the ;sai.duobstacle to thereceiver element .of :the anemometen .(lhfll'i, twine-.200 ;in this example), .or:furtl1en .asra :function ofi the; shape of the grate. bars forming :the; obstacle,,:and :so forth;

The. delay or displacement"factor-serving to. define; the coelficient ofveorrelationmay benvanied simply; by varying the spacing: between :theeneadmut :heads .2091 and 210, by altering .thfiiITESlifliHgafidjllSliHlfiflt 01111163 sup;- port 211.

The. method according" to. the :inyention. rall'owsi uneasuring statistical parameters: :that introduce .:a comparison:

between different .timesnandiit isnapplicablelto-r investi gations of the; most varied'typesiandzmbresparticularly in teralia: the turbulence. in aerodynamic Ffiuids, atmospheric turbulence, hydraulic turbulence, 'applicationsuof probability calculusand statistics, physics, meteorology, chemistry, biology, agriculture, medicine-,1 political economy: and. the. like. and'generallyspeaking all investigations requiring the use ofi'statistics. 1

For instance, a recording .of :thenenceph'alic current generated by the. human :brain: shows: disordered, haphazard variations;v layed or displaced in.- timemay the: connected with it' and this .coefiicient maybe measured! as described in the application The same. appliesnto stock exchangequo tations of a given itemor class on-item's, which vary in an apparently disordered onihaphazard-way;

I claim:

1.. Ina recordanalyzing systemua support-halvinga den sity record thereon, firstsand second reading xhead's cooperating: with said record; for converting the record into signals and spaced; .apartalongsaidi record so tharthe' signals derived simultaneouslyby said *heazds represent a time delay, single; indicating means having 1 two inputs sensitive .to. said signals, and first-and: second channelsconnecting respectively zthe. :first :reading; head to one input and thecseconii reading :head touthetother in ubfon applying said signals to said indicating means.

In a record analyzing system: a support having a density record thereon, first and second reading heads cooperating with said record for converting the record into signals and spaced apart along said record so that the signals derived simultaneously by said heads represent a time delay, double input indicating means for supplying a single indication as a function of said signals derived from both said reading heads, and first and second channels connecting each of said reading heads to one of the inputs of said indicating means.

3. A system for statistical analysis of a record of an aleatory event comprising a support having a density record of the event thereon, first and second reading heads cooperating with the support for obtaining two readings of the record, said heads being spaced apart along said record so that the readings simultaneously derived by said heads represent a time delay, doubleinput means for supplying a single indication as a function of both readings, and connected respectively to the reading heads and the inputs, said means having a degree of inertia adapted to impart a desired statistical character to said indication.

4. Device for determining a statistical factor relating to at least one quantity varying at random; comprising a recording of at least said one quantity, a first reading head and a second reading head in reading relationship with the recording and spaced apart along the latter so that a time delay exists between the portions of said recor ding being simultaneously read by said heads, indicatlng means having two inputs sensitive to the readings derived by said heads and having a degree of inertia corresponding to the statistical factor to be determined, a first channel between said first head and one of said inputs for supplying the reading of said first head to said'one input, and a second channel from said second head to the other of said inputs for supplying the reading of said second head to said other input.

5. Device for determining a statistical factor relating to a quantity varying at random; comprising a recording of said quantity having a variable density, a first reading head and a second reading head in reading re- But 'a coefficient bis-correlation dcfirst and second channels lationship with the recording and spaced apart along the latter so that a time delay exists between the portions of said recording being simultaneously read by said heads, indicating means having two inputs sensitive to the readings derived by said heads and having a degree of inertia corresponding to the statistical factor to be determined, a first channel between said first head and one of said inputs for supplying the reading of said first head to said one input, and a second channel from said second head to the other of said inputs for supplying the reading of said second head to said other input.

6. A device for analysing the recording of a phenomenon to determine a statistical factor relating to said phenomenon; said device comprising a recording support, a single density recording track on said support, means for continuously moving said support, a first reading head in reading cooperation with said track, a second reading head in reading cooperation with said recording track at a section of the latter different from that cooperating with the first reading head so that a time delay is represented between the sections of said track being simultaneously read by said first and second heads, indicating means having two inputs sensitive to the readings derived by said heads and having a degree of inertia corresponding to the statistical factor to be determined, a first channel between said first head and one of said inputs for supplying the reading of said first head to said one input, and a second channel from said second head to the other of said inputs for supplying the reading of said second head to said other input.

7. A device for analysing the recording of a phenomenon to determine a statistical factor relating to said phenomenon; said device comprising a recording wire, means for continuously moving said recording wire, a first stationary reading head in reading; cooperation with said wire, a second stationary reading head in reading cooperation with said wire at a location spaced along the wire from said first reading head so that a time delay is represented between the portions of said wire being simultaneously read by said first and second heads, indicating means having two inputs sensitive to the readings derived by said heads and having a degree of inertia corresponding to the statistical factor to be determined, a first channel between said first head and one of said inputs for supplying the reading of said first head to said one input, and a second channel from said second head to the other of said inputs for supplying the reading of said second head to said other input.

8. A device according to claim 7; further comprising means for adjusting the relative positions of said two stationary reading heads along the recording wire.

9. A device for determining the correlation coefficient deferred in time relating to a quantity varying at random in accordance with an associated phenomenon; said device comprising a recording support, a density recording of said quantity on said support, means for continuously moving said support, a first stationary reading head cooperating with recording, a second stationary reading head cooperating with said recording at a location spaced along the latter from said first head so that the portions of said recording read simultaneously by said heads are deferred in time with respect to each other, and damped wattr'neter means having two inputs one of which is connected to said first reading head and the other of which is connected to said second reading head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,764,340 Oman June 17, 1930 2,243,730 Ellis May 27, 1941 2,258,859 Mitelman Oct. 14, 1941 2,277,285 Woodling Mar. 24, 1942 2,319,219 Draper et al. May 18, 1943 2,332,797 Hume Oct. 26, 1943 2,354,176 Goldsmith July 18, 1944 2,378,383 Arndt June 19, 1945 2,378,388 Begun June 19, 1945 2,389,861 Macomber Nov. 27, 1945 2,424,218 Begun July 22, 1947 2,442,383 Stewart et a1 June 1, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 612,618 Germany Apr. 29, 1935 924,800 France Mar. 17, 1947 

